Government extends acreage reporting deadline

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency Administrator Juan M. Garcia announced an extension of the Farm Service Agency’s acreage reporting deadline. According to a July 11 USDA press release, farm service farmers and landowners have an additional 18 calendar days to submit their annual report of acreage to their local Farm Service Agency county office with the deadline extended to Friday, Aug. 2, 2013. Only the Farm Service Agency reporting deadline has been extended. The acreage-reporting requirement for crop insurance has not changed and remains July 15.

Accurate acreage reports are necessary to determine and maintain eligibility for various programs, such as the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program; the Average Crop Revenue Election Program; the Conservation Reserve Program; and the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistant Program.

Acreage reports for the Farm Service Agency are considered timely this year when filed at the county office by the new applicable final crop reporting deadline of Aug. 2. Producers should contact their county Farm Service Agency office if they are uncertain about reporting deadlines.

While the Farm Service Agency is able to extend its deadline, Risk Management Agency Administrator Brandon Willis emphasized that Risk Management Agency’s acreage reporting date remained, for most spring planted crops in the country. Farmers are reminded to report any loss within 72 hours of discovery to their insurance company. Farmers must report prevented planting acreage to their insurance company, in writing, within 15 calendar days after the final planting date. Losses must be reported and an insurance adjuster must view and release the crop before the crop is destroyed. Farmers are also reminded to contact their insurance agent if they have any questions about coverage, prevented planting, or for reporting and processing a claim.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. Contact a local crop insurance agent for more information about the program. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers or on the Risk Management Agency’s website at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents/.

Producers also should visit their USDA Service Center to complete acreage reporting for Farm Service Agency. For questions on this or any Farm Service Agency program, producers should contact their Farm Service Agency county office or seek information online at www.fsa.usda.gov.

For more information, visit the Wilson County Farm Service Agency located off U.S. 181 in Floresville or call 830-393-3411.